Breaking! NJIC: MWUN demands payment of arrears from defaulting terminals before December 15
Breaking! NJIC: MWUN demands payment of arrears from defaulting terminals before December 15
Segun Oladipupo
The President General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju has directed the Dockworkers branch president, Comrade Tajudeen Ohize to ensure that all the arrears of the newly signed National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) are paid by defaulting terminal operators before the 15th of December, 2024.
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He gave the directive at the 2024 Day of the Dockworkers held at the NPA Sport Ground, Surulere, Lagos on Tuesday
The theme of the Dockworkers data I’d “Safety First, Efficiency Always”
Speaking on the welfare of the Dockworkers, the MWUN PG who doubles as Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress said it was time to read the riot act to the terminal operators for the I’ll treatments meted out to dockworkers.
He therefore called on the concessionaires to abide by the contents of the newly signed NJIC
His words, “We use today to read riot act to terminal operators that think they can use dockworkers as their slaves.
“I am directing my dockworkers president that will the arrears of the just signed NJIC should be paid on or before 15th of this month.”
Earlier the labour union leader knocked the operators for not taking the health conditions of the Dockworkers with utmost care.
Speaking further, Comrade Adeyanju charged all stakeholders to work together for a maritime industry that is safe and secure.
“Enough of anti labour policy, anti work policy, NIMASA should know that we have shown enough respect to terminal operators who do not take the health of the workers important.
“Also, it is important to stress the popular saying that “health ts wealth”. It 1s on this premise that we advocate the need for HMO for ALL Dockworkers in thew places of work that will provide health insurance coverage for them and their immediate family.
“Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) will continue to advocate for better working conditions, improved safety standards, and fair compensation for all dockworkers and other categories of our members. We will also work closely with other stakeholders, including Terminal Operators, Shipping companies and Government Agencies, to ensure that our ports are safe, efficient, and productive.
“It is important to equally draw the attention of Government to resuscitation of Tally Clerks and onboard Gangway Security Men which forms an integral part of Dockworkers in accordance with section 27 of NIMASA Act 2007. Meanwhile, we urge the Nigena Customs Service to extend a hand a fellowship, collaborate and synergize with Dockworkers and the Union in the area of customs examination to forestall the importation of hard drugs.
“However, despite the shortcomings of port concessioning, it has brought in improved security, lighting of the terminals, the ports are now better secured for cargo and safe for port workers. It has also led to better welfare and remuneration of Dockworkers. On this note I wish to appreciate the Nigerian Ports Authority particularty under the leadership of Chief Adebayo Sarunmi who was instrumental to initiating the Condition of Service for Dockworkers.
“Finally, as we celebrate Dockworkers’ Day today let us remember the importance of safety and efficiency in all our operations. Let us renew our commitment to prioritizing the safety and welt being of all dockworkers. And let us work together to build a mantime industry that 1s safe, efficient and prosperous fo
r all.
